"We have lodged solemn representations to the U.S. side," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang during a news briefing.

The spokesman said the report maintained the "Chinese military threat" theory, distorted the facts and interfered in China's internal affairs, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

"China unswervingly sticks to a path of peaceful development and pursues a national defense policy, which is purely defensive in nature," Qin said. "We urged the U.S. side to respect this basic fact."

Among other things, the Defense Department report called for more transparency concerning China's military activities. The report, released Wednesday, said China's military capabilities continue to grow.